Cigarette extinguisher



May 24, 1955 n-z 2,708,939

CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed Aug. 3. 1954 IVE/V2) A. FZ/TZ INVENTOR.

Array/van)" United States, Patent 2,708,939 CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER -l' ienry Anthony Frit'z, Tacoma, Wash. Application August 3, 1954, SerialNo, 447,483

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-256) The present invention relates broadly to smokers accessories and in particular to a device for clipping and 4 extinguishing the burnt end'of a cigarette coincidental with its disposal in an ash tray; It is useful for attachment to ashtrays for automobiles, homes, oflice's, public rooms and all other forms of receptacles for the disposal of cigarette butts, ashes and stubs.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device to receive the burning end of a cigarette and to provide a means for clipping the burning end so that it may be safely placed in receptacle such as an ash tray, smoking stand, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be cast from relatively inexpensive metals such as aluminum, white metal and others, and one that is neat in appearance and has a guide so that a smoker need not pay too much attention to theclipping operation but can with one hand insert a cigarette while it is burning, and with one, hand, or forefinger and thumb, operate the clipping mechanism to cut off the burning end.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be incorporated in the structure of an ashtray, or other receptacle, and constructed of a non-inflammable substance in colors to match the color of the ashtray.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device which will conserve the unburnt portion of a cigarette for later use, while at the same time obliterating the noxious fumes that might arise from burning or smoldering cigarette butts and unburnt cigarette ends, so commonly found in ashtrays in homes, hotel lobbies and other places, and being a source of much displeasure to the other occupants of the room.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the invention;

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing in detail the funnel member of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the holder;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the knife portion of the invention as removed from the assemblyrand Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the frameor support member of the present invention withthe other parts removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the present invention is seen to consist of a substantially horizontally disposed support member or bracket 10 having an offset bend 11 and' being provided on its lower base portion 12 with a hole 13 by means of which it could be riveted or by a bolt or screw secured 2,708,939 Patented May 24, 1955 ice to a supporting surface (not shown) in an ash tray, or other surface where the falling of a burning ember from a cigarette could do no harm.

One. end of the support member 10 is provided with a square hole 14 in which is received a square guide 20 carried by the lower end of a funnel member 15. The

funnel member 15 and the guide are each provided with longitudinally extending apertures 16, 16' respectively, of approximately the same diameter as the cigarette, the apertures 16, 16' together forming a passage i A. for insertion therethrough of acigarette.

A knife 18 is connected to the support member or bracket 10 for pivotal movement into and out of transverse dissecting relation with respect to the passage A. Specifically, the knife is pivotally connected at one end 19 to the support member 10 and is biased toward its out of dissectingv relation position by the spring 21. One end of the spring 21 is hooked into a hole 22 in the knife 18 and the other end is received in the hole 23 in the support member 10, with the knife 18 having an up-struck loop 24 to secure the spring 21 in place. The knife 18 is formed with a narrowed portion at its other end to provide a handle 25. Stop means is provided on the bracket 10 and which is engageable with the knife 18 for limiting the pivotal movement thereof into dissecting relation of the knife with respect to the passage A, such means embodying a J-shaped abutment 17 extending along the bounding portion of the bracket hole 14.

The funnel member 15 has a circular open top end 26 and a conical inner wall, while the outer wall has a narrowed middle portion 27 and an enlarged shoulder 28. The lower end of the funnel member 15 has a slot 29 at one side into which the knife 18 slides to cut a cigarette 30 which may be pushed into the aperture 16 from the open top end 26. The shoulder 28 on the funnel member 15 seats on the raised J-shaped portion 17, to permit the slot 29 to be positioned immediately over the top surface of the support member 10 to receive the knife 18.

A circular locking member 31 having a square hole 32 which embracingly receives the projecting lower end portion of the guide 20 completes the assembly of the invention and is secured on the lower end by any conventional means. if made of metal it may be a press fit, or soldered, and if of plastic material it may be cemented or heat treated to bond it in place and snugly to the support member 10.

The support member 10 is cut away to form a curved notch 33 which permits the knife 18 to slide smoothly on the top surface without interference by the one end of the spring 21 which passes through the hole 22 and is bent over. The action of the knife 18 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The outward pivotal movement of the knife 18 is limited by the member on the support member 10 as shown in Figure 2. It is to be noted that the knife 18 has a sharpened edge portion 41 as shown in Figure 6.

As will be readily understood from the drawing and foregoing description, the cigarette to be clipped is inserted from the top and with a thumb and forefinger on the handle 25 of the knife and on the narrowed middle portion of the funnel member 18, a squeezing movement moves the knife to sever the cigarette and the burnt or burning ember is deposited in the tray below where it What is claimed is:

l. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a bracket having means at one end for attachment to a supporting surface, the other end of said bracket being provided with a hole, an upstanding funnel member superimposed upon said bracket adjacent said other end thereof, said funnel member being provided with an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, a guide carried by the lower end of said funnel member extending through the hole in said bracket with its lower end below and spaced from the bottom surface of said bracket, said guide being provided with an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, the apertures in said funnel memher .and guide being in registry With each other and together forming a passage for insertion therethrough of a cigarette, and a knife pivotally connected to said bracket for movement into and out of transverse dissecting relation with respect to-said passage.

2. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a bracket having means at one end for attachment to a supporting surface, the other end of said bracket being provided with a hole, an upstanding funnel member superimposed upon said bracket adjacent said other end thereof, said funnel member being provided with an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, a guide carried by the lower end of said funnel member extending through the hole in said bracket with its lower end below and spaced from the bottom surface of said bracket, said guide being provided with an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough, the apertures in said funnel member and guide being in registry with each other and together forming a passage for insertion therethrough of a cigarette a knife pivotally connected to said bracket for movement into and out of transverse dissecting relation with respect to said passage, and stop means on said bracket andiengageable with said knife for limiting its pivotal movement with respect to said passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 761,503 Klein May 31, 1904 851,769 Nelson Apr. 30, 1907 1,637,172 Burress July 26, 1927 2,253,778 Goodson Aug. 26, 1941 2,558,320 Statelles June 26, 1951 2,664,091 Thostenson Dec. 29, 1953 

